Daksha’s drawing workshop

27/1/14 I have signed up for Daksha’s drawing workshop.

Daksha Patel has a collection of different types of objects, including natural objects and manmade objects, she explained that the idea is to use imagination to make connections between these objects, unlike museum displays, that create exhibits and group objects together in categories.

I was interested in natural objects, how their value changes over history based on opinions, for example, a rock of crystal, its value is based on size, colours, etc.  If the crystals were common, they wouldn’t be so valuable anymore.

Rockhounding Arkansas is a website that explains how the value of crystals is judged.

RockhoundingAR.com Copyright © 2011.

http://www.rockhoundingar.com/worth.php       

  The display of the collection by Daksha.

I made the connection between a crab shell, a goat’s teeth and manmade wax and feathers, I like the idea of bones and shells that were once a living creature, but their remains could last for thousands of years if kept in good conditions. 

The idea that people would kill in order to collect is like a desire to own an object, simply because it is rare. 

Daksha suggested that maybe it is natural to collect for us, because I told her I collect objects to remember things by.

 

I think this workshop was very helpful in inspiring me to think of ways to relate to my project, I, myself have a collection of different things, and I am planning to put that in my project, because most of my collection are natural objects and these are related to data. It inspired me to think of ways of composing and representing my collections.

Drawing, Distort and Warp

On Friday (17/1/14)  ‘drawing, distort and warp’ really helped me to understand the process of print making, because the task was to develop an awareness of colour and composition by observing with no tonal drawing. I brought my seashell for still life drawing, because it related to data, the way a seashell grows in a spiral. I drew it from different perspectives. 

Then I used gouache paint to fill in the drawing. If I looked at my drawing from a printer point of view, black and white, I would be able to see where the colours transferred onto the fabric. I have been trying to do this.

Although at first it seems that I am still using paint to draw lines, as I go on, it becomes clearer where the negatives and where the positives are, the balance between black and white. Then I used photocopying to help create collages. 

I used this new process to help me to look back on my drawings that I have done for my motif designs, then I used sharpies to fill in any areas where colour would be. It is a bit like colouring, because I used a pencil as a guide line, then used a fine-liner to draw continuous line drawing on top. Overlapping these two I get the positive, then I use a sharpie to fill in any areas that I want to be negative. I think, in print, you have to be able to see where the balance is. On my first attempt there was too much positive and not enough negative. Also, I need to think ahead, to be able to transfer positive and negative space the other way round, because I think in print, everything is backward.

 

 

I had another go at the flat colours (the bottom image above), but I was having difficulty in getting the flat colours, using flat colours is a bit like pop art, no blending. I thought of using the photocopier to photocopy my painting then using a pen knife to cut out the flat colour bits and representing these in a collage way. I thought this would be another way of working around it, in a way that I am most comfortable with.   

100 meter line

I admire Candy Jernigan's work, she is known as a found object artist.
 

My first idea to represent 100 meter line was to go to Whitworth park and use a 100 meter long string to tie two trees together and fill the space in between with the lines.

However, I know there is no such thing as original, because there's always some artist somewhere who has done similar things, but still, I would like something that came from my own idea and to know that I wasn't just adopting another artist's approach without being interested in their work.  

 

I used found objects, I collected twigs, and later I selected 3 out of a bunch, and I hammered one on the wall, and used a roll of thread to tie the 2 together, to create a sense of flowing, the shadows reflected the threads and the twigs, I know the thread did not create 100 meter length, but I was looking at how the light and shadow, positive and negative space multiplied the line. 

           


 

 

 

 

Later on, I was looking at Candy Jernigan's work and I like how she uses different ways to represent her found objects, through collage and drawings.

I have taken this idea from her on board, it happened accidentally. My dog chewed up the twigs I found at the park, and she also chewed up my Embroidery wooden hoop in to many pieces. I used those wooden pieces and placed them in five orderly lines, and another piece at the other side of the paper. I then started to draw them, drawing the found objects, within the found objects themselves.

 

Shoes Drawing

 

I have always been a big fan of Egon Schiele, because of his style, how he uses paint to highlight tone, create depth and his way of addressing twisted body shapes by using expressive lines.

 

In my work I was trying to response to that style, by using different shades of blue paint for blue shoes only, different shades of red for red shoes and so on. In each pair of shoes drawing, I was also experimenting different drawing style. On the left, (blue shoes) I have first used continuous line drawing, then working with different shades of blue to fill in the form. However, I have left it unfinished, because some of Egon Schiele's work was left part coloured in.
In the middle, I have used white paint to highlight the light area on the shoes, but on the right side I have started thinking about using the background itself as the positive space.

 

For example, Russian prisoner of war, 1916.

I thought this way of working draw more attention to the work itself and also showing having the skills of photographic drawing, but having thought about the compostion in another level of working.

Combining drawings and hand stitch

I was inspired by Alice Kettle. Her work involves combining drawings, prints, hand stitch into contemporary textiles.

In the Guise of an Angel

I have found this piece very inspiring, the use of colours, the textures and the energy within have bought movements in to this piece. I was trying to create the sketchy feel in my work by using mainly drawing and use little hand stitch just to bring out the details.  

Open blanket stitch

The colour on the background are accidental, I have been using this piece of fabric for ironing my ink-up receipts, therefore, the ink stain got onto the fabric.
Then I have started cut out coloured fabric and place them on top in a collage way and used chain stitch, french knots and open button hole to creates the petals of the flower, on each flower, I was trying to creates more details by creating smaller loops.

Friday Drawing Day 25/10/13

This is a photograph that I have took of the actual objects.

This is a drawing that I have done on Friday. (25/10/13) I have first used blind continuous line drawing to get the basic form of the objects then I have worked into it by using paint. I have chosen to draw as detailed as I can on the first two pairs of shoes, then at the back I have decided to use a paint brush and use continuous line drawing again, but not filling in the details, because I thought the structure of the object itself was rather interesting, therefore, I have only worked on the positive space. I really like the composition in this drawing that I have done, because at the front, the colour red are really eye catching and at the back, (the heels) are rather abstract comparing them to the four shoes at the front.

This is a drawing that I have done at home, I have first used paint to create movement and also mark down the structure of the object, then correcting it with a black marker, because the way I see this object was the diamonds that has been stuck on the front of the shoe was really appearing to me, therefore, I have used line drawing to repersent the form, pattern of them.

Cornely Manchine Sample 3

I have used the Cornely Machine as a drawing tool in order to draw a continuous line drawing, after I have gained more control and experience over it. Again, this is from one of my still drawing in my sketchbook and I have transfered it into textiles.

This is a still life drawing that I have done, I have overlapped different types of drawing styles together, such as continuous line drawing, using straight lines only, both hands drawing together, left handed drawing and standing up and looking over my drawing gives me an over view and better movement of the way I draw, for I have not only used my hands but my arms.

Shoes

This drawing is from one of the chance card task- Draw a drawing for 5 minutes for 60 minutes.
I have planned to draw both shoes, however, I have realised I have not spend my time evenly on both shoes drawing. Therefore, I thought of having one detailed drawing and one continue line blind drawing. I thought this way it makes the drawing look more intresting.

Long Drawing

This is from one of the chance cards - Long drawing

I have folded an A4 piece of paper in half and started drawing 4 different water bottles in front of me, they are all similar and yet different in design. I have decided to use line drawing to bring out the colours on the objects.

Using Indian Ink with different sized brushes

This is one of the drawing task from the chance cards - use Indian ink with different sized brushes.
I have taken a picture of the Manchester art gallery from the inside, because I thought the building was built with glass roofs and the natural sun light can shine through. I thought that was rather interesting to draw that. I mainly used line drawing to draw the stairwell. Also, watered down the ink to show the see thoroughness of the glass.

This is the actual photograph that I have worked from, it was taken in Manchester Art Gallery.